Flow volume regulating valve

ABSTRACT

The regulator has a valve body with a lineal passage extending therethrough and having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other. A valve stem is slidable in the passage, fits therein with limited radial clearance, and has an inlet head and an outlet head seatable in the inlet and outlet, respectively. In cross section, the stem and heads are circular and the passage is polygonal, so that, with the radial clearance, a limited flow passage is provided between the wall of the lineal passage and the walls of the stem and seated one of the heads. The length of the stem between the heads is such than when either head is seated the other is unseated. Each head, when seated, restricts, but does not close, its associate end of the limited flow passage which always is open sufficiently to permit the limited flow. The stem is biased by a spring to hold the outlet head normally in its seated maximum restricting position. A housing having an inlet and outlet encloses the valve body. The housing has a cavity which is connected with the outlet of the lineal passage and is closed at one side by a diaphragm which, in response to a build up of pressure in the cavity, moves the stem in opposition to the spring so as to unseat the outlet head and seat the inlet head. The cavity has a continuously open discharge passage, the flow capacity of which is equal to, or less than, that of the restricted flow passage when the heads are unseated, and is equal to, or greater than that of the restricted flow passage when the inlet head is seated.

United States Patent 91 Graber May 1,1973

Primary Examiner-J-larold W. Weakley Atl0rneyJohn Harrow Leonard Theregulator has a valve body with a lineal passage extending therethroughand having an inlet at one end ABSTRACT and an outlet at the other. Avalve stem is slidable in the passage, fits therein with limited radialclearance, and has an inlet head and an outlet head seatable in theinlet and outlet, respectively. In cross section, the stem and heads arecircular and the passage is polygonal, so that, with the radialclearance, a limited flow passage is provided between the wall of thelineal passage and the walls of the stem and seated one of the heads.The length of the stem [between the heads is such than when either headis seated the other is unseated. Each head, when seated, restricts, butdoes not close, its associate end of the limited flow passage whichalways is open sufficiently to permit the limited flow. The stem isbiased by a spring to hold the outlet head normally in its seatedmaximum restricting position. A housing having an inlet and outletencloses the valve body. The housing has a cavity which is connectedwith the outlet of the lineal passage and is closed at one side by adiaphragm which, in response to a build up of pressure in the cavity,moves the stem in opposition to the spring so as to unseat the outlethead and seat the inlet head. The cavity has a continuously opendischarge passage, the flow capacity of which is equal to, or less than,that of the restricted flow passage when the heads are unseated, and isequal to, or greater than that of the restricted flow passage when theinlet head is seated.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 20 Ali 17" I5 I3 I Patented May 1, 19733,730,773

3 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENTOR. CARL w. GRABER ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1973v I 35,730,773

3 Sheets-Sheet P.

' F INVENTOR. CARL w. GRABER AT TORNEY.

I Patented May 1, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CARL w. GRABERATTORNEY.

FLOW VOLUME REGULATING VALVE BACKGROUND 1. Field of Invention A flowregulator for maintaining a uniform discharge of water under varyingline pressures at the regulator inlet.

2. Description of Prior Art Heretofore, various flow regulators forregulating the volume and force of water discharged therefrom have beenprovided. Many are used for. controlling the volume and force of waterdischarged from nozzles of drinking fountains. In general, a flowregulatoris connected between a manually operable stop cock and thefountain discharge nozzle, or bubbler," with the inlet of the regulatorconnected to the outlet of the stop cock and the outlet of the regulatorconnected to the nozzle. These regulators generally include a diaphragmoperated valve which is biased to an unseated position by a spring so asto permit the full flow through the regulator to the nozzle at low linepressures. As the pressure increases, the diaphragm moves the valveprogressively toward the seated position in which it stops the flow. Oneof the principal difficulties with such prior regulators is that theycannot provide a proper flow through at both high and low inletpressures for emitting at the nozzle a stream with sufficient force sothat its trajectory ends at or close to the outlet of the fountain catchbasin. If made to provide an adequate flow at low line pressures, then,in the case of a much higher line pressure, the emitted stream all tofrequency overshoots the basin. This is particularly true when the linepressure is relatively high and the stop cock is suddenly opened,because then the regulator is subjected not only to the higher linepressure, but also higher pressures occasioned by inertial forces uponthe sudden admission of the stream of water into the regulator. Thuseither the emitted stream dribbles out of the nozzle at very low inletpressures and overshoots the basin at high inlet or inertial pressures.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present flow regulator eliminates surges andmaintains a relatively uniform flow of water through its outletthroughout a range of varying line pressures, within its rated capacity,from low to high.

The flow regulator is shown herein for illustration as connected to awater supply line between a manual control valve or stop cock V and adrinking fountain discharge nozzle or bubbler N. When so connected it isoperative by the pressure of water at the outlet of the regulating valveof the regulator to set a double head valve plug so that a. when waterat low line pressure is admitted by the manual control valve to theregulator, the regulating valve assures that the water will be emittedthrough the fountain nozzle as a distinct stream which clears thenozzle; and

b. when water at high line pressure is admitted to the regulator, eitherby a sudden increase in the pressure in the mains while the controlvalve is open, or by opening the manual control valve suddenly while theline pressure is relatively high, the regulating valve eliminatessurging through the nozzles and causes the water to be emitted initiallytherefrom as a stream of such limited force that the water falls intothe basin near the nozzle,

and then as a progressively more forceful stream which is projectedfurther from the nozzle but limited in force so that water falls intothe basin well within its peripheral limits, thus constraining theemitted stream from overshooting the basin at any time.

Various specific objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof,wherein reference is made to the drawings in which FIG. 1 is adiagrammatic illustration showing an application of the regulator of thepresent invention to a conventional drinking fountain;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the regulator with a manual control valveand a drinking fountain nozzle connected thereto;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, partthereof being shown in section as taken on the line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a right hand end elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIG.FIG. 3 showing the valve of the regulator in operating position whensubjected to high inlet pressure;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the valve when subjected tolow inlet pressure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the structureof FIG. 6, taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal view of the structure ofFIG. 7 taken on the line 8-8 in FIG. 7 showing the valve when it issubjected to high pres sure;

FIG. 8A is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the valve when it issubjected to low inlet pressure;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve illustrated in FIG.7 and is taken on the line 99 thereof, but shows the valve when it issubjected to low inlet pressure;

FIG. 9A is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the valve when it issubjected to high inlet pressure;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 10-40 inFIG. 3; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary end view of the discharge nozzle of thefountain, as viewed from the line 11-11 in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the flow regulator, indicated generally at 1,is shown as connected in a pipe line 2 between a manually operable stopcock or control valve V and a nozzle N of a conventional drinkingfountain. The nozzle N is intended to emit a stream of water which, ingeneral, has a trajectory which curves downwardly so that the waterfalls into a catch basin B of the fountain. As heretofore mentioned, theregulator should have an adeciuate flow at low line pressure so that thewater is emitted as a well defined stream which clears the nozzle andenters the basin, as indicated at a in FIG. 1, instead of merelydribbling down from the nozzle. At higher pressures the emitted streamalso initially should be one, as indicated at a, which then almostinstantly builds up to a stream, as indicated at b, the trajectory ofwhich enters the basin nearer the center of the basin. In no case doesthe regulator permit a stream, such as indicated at c, to be emittedwith such force as to overshoot the basin.

In most prior flow regulators, under high inlet pressures, the streamemitted initially is usually one which overshoots the basin, asindicated at c, and then moderates and drops back to the position of thestream indicated at b.

In the present structure, at low line pressure, the stream is emittedconsistently initially as indicated at a. The same is true initially athigh line or inertial pressures, but the stream then builds up to theposition indicated at b. The danger of overshooting is totallyeliminated.

Referring next to FIGS. 2 through 6, the regulator 1 comprises a housing5 having an inlet 6 and an outlet 7 connnected by the line 2 to thenozzle N of the drinking fountain. The housing has a transverse inletbore 10 which leads from the inlet 6 into a cavity 11. An outlet duct 12leads from the cavity 11 to the outlet 7. Mounted within the housing 5between the inlet 6 and cavity 11 is a valve body 13, in the form of asleeve, having a lineal passage 14 therethrough, and providing the onlycommunication between the bore 10 and the cavity 11. The passage has aninlet at one end in communication with the bore 10 and an outlet at theother end in communication with the cavity 11.

Mounted within the passage 14 for endwise'movement relative thereto is avalve stem 15 which carries at the inlet end of the passage 14 afrusto-conical valve head or piston 16 which is adapted to seat in theinlet end of the passage 14 to restrict the flow thereinto. At itsopposite end the stem 15 carries a cylindrical valve head or piston 17which is adapted to seat in the outlet end of the passage 14 to restrictthe flow therefrom.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the passage 14 is of a different crosssectional shape than the stem 15 and, in addition, the stem 15 fits inthe passage with limited radial clearance. Thus a limited flow passagefrom the bore 10 to the cavity 1 l is provided by a space between thestem 15 and the wall of the passage 14. The passage 14 is polygonal incross section and the stem 15, the inlet head 16, and the outlet head 17are circular in cross section so that the limited flow passage is neverclosed entirely but permits a limited flow of water to pass from thebore 10 to the cavity 11, through the radial clearance space, throughthe space between the corners or vertices of the polygonal passage andthe circular stem, and through the clearance between the seated one ofthe heads and the vertices of the wall of the portion of the passage 14in which it seats. The head 17 is of such diameter that substantiallythe only passage around the head 17, when it is seated in the passage14, is through the space between its periphery and the vertices of thepolygonal passage 14.

Each head 16 and 17 merely restricts, but does not close, its associatedend of the passage 14, when fully seated. The length of the stem 15between the heads 16 and 17 is such, relative to the length of thepassage 14, that when one of the heads 16 and 17 is seated, the other isunseated. Thus the limited flow passage through the valve body 13 isnever closed, but only restricted.

There is also a definite relation between the flow capacity of thelimited flow passage and that of the out let duct 12. This relation issuch that the flow capacity of the outlet duct 12 is equal to or lessthan the flow capacity of the limited flow passage when both the heads16 and 17 are unseated. On the other hand, the capacity of the outletduct 12 is equal to or greater than that of the limited flow passagewhen the inlet head 16 is seated. Furthermore, the outlet head 17 isshorter than the inlet head 16, to allow for a quicker unseating forbetter low pressure flow before the head 16 seats.

Since the valve is to function automatically, the cavity 11 has one sidewall in the form of a diaphragm 19. The upper end of the stem 15, beyondthe head 17, extends through the diaphragm and is threaded and connectedto the diaphragm by means of a suitable nut 20 and washers 21. Since thehead 17 can slide through the passage 14, the stem and diaphragm can beassembled by inserting the stem, head 17 foremost, through the passage14 from the inlet end thereof. The peripheral margin of the diaphragm 19is firmly clamped in sealed relation against a shoulder in the housing 5by means of a cap 22 which is screw threaded into the housing 5. The cap22 is provided with a bleeder duct 23 to afford ready escape of air frombetween the cap and the diaphragm at the upper face of the diaphragm.The diaphragm l9, and thereby the stem 15, are biased by a biasingspring 24 to a position in which the head 17 is disposed in its fullyrestricting position within the outlet end portion of the passage 14.The diaphragm 19, therefore, is responsive to the water pressure in thecavity 11 which is continuously in communication with the continuouslyopen discharge duct 12. The pressure may vary from substantially zero toa pressure beyond that at which the spring can maintain the head 17seated in its restricting position.

The diaphragm 19 is forced upwardly in a manner such that first, itlifts the head 17 out of its restricting or seated position, and then,with a slight additional movement, it seats the head 16 in itsrestricting or seated position.

A suitable adjusting nut 25 is prefitted into the neck of the cap 22 foradjusting the compression of the spring 24 thereby to preselect thepressure in the cavity 11 at which the valve responds, and thereby thedegree of valve movement at the different pressures. The lower washer 21is arranged to engage the upper end of the body 13 and limit the degreeto which the stem can be moved downwardly by the spring duringadjustment, so as to protect the parts and prevent overstressing of thediaphragm and valve head 17.

With a low input pressure applied to the inlet 6, the head 16 isunseated in a fully non-restricting position and the head 17 is in fullyseated position in which it allows a substantial, but limited flow intothe cavity 1 l.

The regulating screw 25, by regulating the compression of the spring 24,regulates the position of the head 17 with respect to the outlet end ofthe passage 14 to permit maximum restricted flow for a selected lowpressure. The flow capacity of the duct 12 is equivalent to, or lessthan, the passage between the stem 15 and the wall of the passage 14when both heads are unseated. When the pressure at the inlet end of thepassage 14 increases, it forces more water through the v limited flowpassage. The pressure created by the in creased volume of water due tothe limited size of the outlet duct 12, raises the diaphragm, thusraising the stem 15 and thereby the heads 16 and 17 so that while thehead 17 is moved to a less restricting position, the head 16 isprogressively restricting the inlet end of the passage 14, the volume ofwater passing through the limited flow passage between the head 16 andinlet to the passage 14 is never greater than the water passing throughthe outlet duct 12.

It is noted that the duct 12 is much smaller than the outlet 7 or thehousing 5. Furthermore, in installations, the regulator 1 is below thelevel of the outlet of the nozzle N so that the bore 10, passage 14,limited flow passage, the cavity 11, the duct 12, and the outlet 7 arealways filled with water under a limited head. As a result the regulatoris almost instantly responsive to a change in pressure. This change inpressure may be created by a change in the pressure of the mains. Italso may be by inertial forces due to the sudden opening of the valve Vand resultant introduction of pressure of the main against the staticcolumn between the nozzle N and the outlet end of the passage 14.However, since there is always a flow through the passage 14, regardlessof which head 16 or 17 is seated, this sudden change in pressure isdamped, the diaphragm 19 becoming almost instantly effective to adjustthe valve before an appreciable flow to the nozzle N. In fact, thetendency is for the inlet head 16 to move almost instantly upon theoccurrence of such inertial forces occasioned by sudden opening of thevalve V at high or low pressures, and as these forces are dissipated ordamped, the diaphragm 19 operates to move the inlet head 16 first to arestricting position, and then drops it back to a less restrictingposition, depending on the pressure. Consequently, instead of the streamemitted from the nozzle having an initial trajectory which overshootsthe basin B, the emitted stream has a trajectory which first falls ashort distance clear of the nozzle N and then gradually increases, asthe head 16 moves back to less restricting position, due to a decreasein inertial or line pressures, so that its trajectory projects fartherfrom the nozzle N and falls into the basin near the center.

Most such nozzles have a discharge opening, such as indicated at 26which may be larger than the duct 12 and smaller than the passagethrough the pipe line 2 and the outlet 7. A throttling plug 27 isgenerally incorporated in the nozzle between its discharge opening andits inlet end. The plug 27 has a plurality of passages 28, each of whichhas a diameter substantially equal to that of the duct 12. As a result,even though the water may be discharged through the duct Has a forciblestream, it is discharged into a larger cross section of water in theline in advance of the nozzle which reduces the flow velocity. Thisobviously reduces the force with which the water issues to the outlet26.

Since the head 17 is shorter than the head 16, it moves out ofrestricting position before the head 16 moves into the restrictingposition, so that at low pressure there is a free flow through the flowspace between the walls of the passage 14 and the stem 15. This maycontinue as long as the pressure is low. As the pressure increases, thevolume of the discharged stream becomes greater. The diaphragm lifts thestem further and moves the head 16 into restricting position. Thepressure at which this occurs is determined by the setting of the plug25 and resultant compression of the spring 24.

In the illustrative example, drawn to scale in FIG. 3, the regulator lis one which is rated for water pressure of from 10 p.s.i. to p.s.i. Ingeneral, when so rated, it can produce essentially the same dischargestream from the nozzle N at any pressure within this range. The waterpressure itself tends to unseat the head 17 suddenly at applied pressurenear the upper end of the range and thereby causes a more rapid increasein the pressure in the cavity 11 and more rapid seating of the head 16.While raising the diaphragm 19, of course, assists in reducing thesurge, the surge is eliminated essentially by the heads 16 and 17themselves.

In the illustrative example, when the head 17 rises 1/32 of an inch orslightly more, the head 16 almost immediately starts restriction of theinlet end of the passage 14. When the head 16 rises 3/32 of an inch, itbottoms against the lower edges of the flat wall portions of the passage14. Thus, in starting in the fully seated position of the head 16,downward movement of the stem 15 causes the head 17 to enter the outletend of the passage 14 with a movement of only 3/32 of an inch. When thestem is fully down, the head 17 is seated by extending about 1/64 of aninch into the upper end of the passage 14. In general, the spring can beset so that, at from 25 to 30 pounds inlet pressure, the stem 15 and itsheads 16 and 17 float in a position in which the limited flow passagebetween the stern and walls of the passage 14 is fully open. The streamproduced at the nozzle is substantially the same regardless of pressureat the inlet 6.

The stem and its heads may be made of plastic, if desired, as also maythe body 13.

I Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A flow regulator comprising:

A valve body having an inlet passage and an outlet passage;

a seat member in the body between said passages and having a limitedflow passage 'therethrough with an outlet, and with an inlet, which isconnected with the inlet passage and being otherwise imperforate;

a continuously open restricted flow duct connecting the outlet with saidoutlet passage;

valve means in the body and operative when in a first position torestrict the outlet to a substantial flow less than normal limited flow,and to fully open the inlet, and when in a second position to restrictthe inlet to a substantial flow less than normal limited flow, and fullyopen the outlet, and when in intermediate positions, to permit normallimited flow through the seat member, and being inoperative in anyposition tosubstantially close the inlet and the outlet, respectively,to a degree precluding any substantial flow through the member;

biasing means biasing the valve means to said one position;

thevalve body having a cavity connected to said outlet and to saidrestricted flow duct;

fluid pressure operated means connected with said cavity so as to beresponsive to the pressure of the fluid therein to set the valve meansin said other positions.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the limited flow passageis a lineal passage, its inlet is at one end and its outlet is at theother end;

the valve means includes a stem mounted in said body passage formovement endwise thereof in opposite directions;

the limited flow passage and stem are shaped differently in crosssection and arranged so that a space for fluid flow is provided betweentheir peripheral walls from the inlet to the outlet of the limited flowpassage;

inlet and outlet valve heads are carried on opposite ends of the stem,respectively, and are movably thereby to and from said flow restrictingpositions relative to the opposite ends of the limited flow passage,respectively;

said heads and the inlet and outlet ends of the limited flow passage areshaped so that a more limited, but substantial, flow of fluid can passbetween each head and the wall of its associated end of the limited flowpassage while that head is in its maximum flow restricting position.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the length of the sternbetween the heads is sufficiently greater than the distance between themaximum restricting positions, respectively, of the heads so that thestem constrains each head to an unrestricting position while the otherhead is in maximum restricting position.

4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the flow capacity of theduct is equal to or less than the flow capacity of the limited flowpassage when both heads are unseated.

5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the flow capacity of theoutlet duct, when the inlet head is in maximum restricting position isgreater than the flow capacity of the limited flow passage.

6. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said fluid pressureoperated means includes a diaphragm is sealed relation to the cavity andproviding one wall thereof;

means connect the stem to the diaphragm;

the biasing means is a spring in the housing exteriorly of the cavityand connected to the stem and diaphragm and biasing the stern anddiaphragm in a direction to move the outlet head to its maximumrestricting position; and v means to adjust the biasing force exerted bythe spring on the stern and diaphragm.

7. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the valve heads are spacedso that the outlet head moves to fully open position before the inlethead reaches a restricting position.

8. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the inlet head is shapedrelative to the inlet and the limited flow passage so that the inlethead can enter at least part way into the limited flow passage andprogressively restrict the fluid flow space therethrough as the inlethead approaches its maximum restricting position.

9. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the outlet head is shorterthan the inlet head.

1. A flow regulator comprising: A valve body having an inlet passage andan outlet passage; a seat member in the body between said passages andhaving a limited flow passage therethrough with an outlet, and with aninlet, which is connected with the inlet passage and being otherwiseimperforate; a continuously open restricted flow duct connecting theoutlet with said outlet passage; valve means in the body and operativewhen in a first position to restrict the outlet to a substantial flowless than normal limited flow, and to fully open the inlet, and when ina second position to restrict the inlet to a substantial flow less thannormal limited flow, and fully open the outlet, and when in intermediatepositions, to permit normal limited flow through the seat member, andbeing inoperative in any position to substantially close the inlet andthe outlet, respectively, to a degree precluding any substantial flowthrough the member; biasing means biasing the valve means to said oneposition; the valve body having a cavity connected to said outlet and tosaid restricted flow duct; fluid pressure operated means connected withsaid cavity so as to be responsive to the pressure of the fluid thereinto set the valve means in said other positions.
 2. The structureaccording to claim 1 wherein the limited flow passage is a linealpassage, its inlet is at one end and its outlet is at the other end; thevalve means includes a stem mounted in said body passage for movementendwise thereof in opposite directions; the limited flow passage andstem are shaped differently in cross section and arranged so that aspace for fluid flow is provided between their peripheral walls from theinlet to the outlet of the limited flow passage; inlet and outlet valveheads are carried on opposite ends of the stem, respectively, and aremovably thereby to and from said flow restricting positions relative tothe opposite ends of the limited flow passage, respectively; said headsand the inlet and outlet ends of the limited flow passage are shaped sothat a more limited, but substantial, flow of fluid can pass betweeneach head and the wall of its associated end of the limited flow passagewhile that head is in its maximum flow restricting position.
 3. Thestructure according to claim 2 wherein the length of the stem betweenthe heads is sufficiently greater than the distance between the maximumrestricting positions, respectively, of the heads so that the stemconstrains each head to an unrestricting position while the other headis in maximum restricting position.
 4. The structure according to claim2 wherein the flow capacity of the duct is equal to or less than theflow capacity of the limited flow passage when both heads are unseated.5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the flow capacity of theoutlet duct, when the inlet head is in maximum restricting position isgreater than the flow capacity of the limited flow passage.
 6. Thestructure according to claim 2 wherein said fluid pressure operatedmeans includes a diaphragm is sealed relation to the cavity andproviding one wall thereof; means connect the stem to the diaphragm; thebiasing means is a spring in the housing exteriorly of the cavity andconnected to the stem and diaphragm and biasing the stem and diaphragmin a direction to move the outlet head to its maximum restrictingposition; and means to adjust the biasing force exerted by the spring onthe stem and diaphragm.
 7. The structure according to claim 2 whereinthe valve heads are spaced so that the outlet head moves to fully openposition before the inlet head reaches a restricting position.
 8. Thestructure according to claim 2 wherein the inlet head is shaped relativeto the inlet and the limited flow passage so that the inlet head canenter at least part way into the limited flow passage and progressivelyrestrict the fluid flow space therethrough as the inlet head approachesits maximum restricting position.
 9. The structure according to claim 2wherein the outlet head is shorter than the inlet head.